Lack of Online Play in Bionic Commando: Rearmed the "Right Decision"

Nicholas "bapenguin" Puleo January 28th, 2009 at 9:01 AM

Back in May of last year, the word got out the Bionic Commando: Rearmed would lack online play despite sporting both multiplayer and co-op modes. Obviously this disappointed us, as it seems to be the case all too often these days, developers get things almost right in terms of a fully featured game.

It's now some 9 months later and in a post mortem with Gamasutra, Capcom's Ben Judd analyzes the entire development process and the outcome. Perhaps unsurprisingly Ben sticks by their decision to cut online play.

As frustrating as all the "no online play = no buy" comments were to read, in hindsight, this was the right choice. After seeing the large amount of headaches, additional production time, and cost that comes with adding online, I'm glad we made the choice not to include it.

Ben even pushed the game's developer GRIN to at least include an online co-op mode.

To give GRIN credit, even though I initially put pressure on them to add in online co-op, they gave it to me straight. They knew that adding online would be a huge amount of risk

Regardless of what he says, I bought this game and played it maybe twice. If I would have had an online partner I may have taken the time to complete it. Perhaps I'm the fool for giving them the money.

Source: Link

Tags: xbox live arcade bionic commando playstation network politics

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5 Total Reader Comments

Mrxknown_JG at 05:37 AM on 1.28.2009

Speaking as a software developer-in-training, there are business people that decide what features get added to a product. It's not up to the developers unless they can make a good argument for why it's needed.

When looking at a feature they have to know the cost of implementing it (training employees (if necessary), hiring a new employee experienced with developing that feature, how much time does that add to the development time, and then how much money to pay the employees for the work done.

SO remember it's not always the developers that get a say. That's why I love companies like Bungie, Rockstar, Epic, etc. They create a unique and separate relationship with their publisher. They get a lot of creative control.

Biohzrd451 at 06:20 AM on 1.28.2009

To take JG's statement one step further just take EA for example there is a company that almost always forces a company to rush causing it to leave out features or leave the game feeling really broken.

bapenguin at 06:30 AM on 1.28.2009

Technically Capcom is the publisher in this case.

This article confirms that both parties are to blame.

The publisher wanted the online, the developer pushed back and said it was hard. The publisher conceded.

Biohzrd451 at 06:42 AM on 1.28.2009

They will understand soon that online coop is a big selling point with games.... soon very soon.

wilder at 02:18 PM on 1.28.2009

I was really looking forward to this game when I originally heard it was going to have co-op. I had many fond memories of the original as I had finished it many years ago.

My main co-op friend and I were all ready to lay down our MS points to play this together online. That obviously didn't get to happen. Guess I'll hold onto my old memories instead of creating new ones.